Cover for ironing machines and the like



as, 1, W35. W. J. M CAUGHAN COVER FOR IRONING MACHINES AND THE-LIi (E FiledJune 2'6, i955 5 Sheets -Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1936. w. J. McCAUGHAN COVER FOR IRONING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 umu m i w. J. l Vl cCAUGHAN 2,052,467 COVER FOR IR ONING MACHINES AND LIKE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 26 1953 Patented Dec. 1-, 1936 "PATENT OFFICE 2,062,467 oovEn Fort momc moms AND I THET'LIKE William J. McCaughan, to Electric Househo River Forest, 111., assignor ld Utilities Corporation,

Cicero, Ill.,'a corporation of Illinois Application June 26',

Claims.

My invention relates to an improved cover for domestic ironing machines and the like.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a cover and mountings therefor which will enable 5 the cover to be easily swung to an open or closed position with respect to the ironer without overbalancing the ironer and cover, and which will, when in open position, serve as a useful extension for the ironer table.

A further object is the provision of a substantial independent support for the cover, be projected into supporting relation cover is opened and will be withdrawn withinthe confines of the cover when the cover is closed. A further object is to cushion the movement of the cover to prevent it being violently swung into open position against the ironer stand and over-.

balancing the ironenand to assist in the restoration of the cover to closed position.

A further object is the provision of simple inexpensive mounting and operating mechanism for the support and operation of the cover, which mechanism is concealed within the structure so as not to affect the appearance of the structure as a piece of furniture.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

- Fig. 1 is a view in end of elevation of an ironer stand and cover, together with thecover mountings, embodying the invention, a portion of the cover being broken out to better illustrate the movable leg and other operating parts;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the its independent legs; and

Fig. 3 is a front view of the entire structure including the ironer cover and cover operating mechanism, the cover being in section to better illustrate the cover mechanism at both ends; this view being taken on line 33 of Fig. l.

The table or stand A is representative of the type of table or stand used for domestic ironing machines or other household appliances, and usually includes a rectangular frame I having supporting legs 2 at the corners thereof, and a fiat rectangular table top 3. Mounted on the table top is the-ironer roll 4 and the support 5 which usually includes the driving mechanism 50 (not shown) for the roll.

rear walls 1, a flat rectangular top 8 and an open which'will. when the cover swung to open position and Supported by 1933, Serial No. 677,551

substantially the dimensions of a table top so as 'to conform to the appearance of the structure, and is deep enough to completely enclose the ironer roll and mechanism. he lower edges of the cover rest upon the table top of the ironer stand, suitable rubber cushions 9 being provided at these edges to prevent marring of the table as a table top.

The cover 'is intended to be swung bodily upwardly to cl'ear the roll mechanism and enough so that,as shown in Fig. 2, they permit orshaft I5 the rearlower corner of the cover to be lowered sufliciently to' position the front wall 1 of the cover in a plane slightly above the table top 3.

When the cover is to be removed from the ironer, its front edge is lifted and, the cover swung upwardly about a pivotal axis represented by the pivots II at the upper ends of the links l2, until the cover clears the ironer parts, whereupon the cover is then swung bodilyand rearwardly and at the same time given a quarter turr intil it occuotal axes l3 represented by the shaft permits the rearward and lowering mo the cover.

In addition to the links, l2 there is another set of links I! which are pivotally connected at one end l8 to the side wallsof the cover adjacent the IS which ement of middle portion thereof., At their other ends these at I9 to fixed mounted on the table top 3. The pivlinks I! are pivotally{ connected brackets 20 the cover,

otal axis I! of the links I! is so close to the axes ll of the links l2, that the links l1 are little affected during the initial movement of raising the cover about the pivotal axes ll of the links l2. When, however, the cover begins its bodily movement rearwardly and downwardly, the links 12 rotate about their pivotal axes l3, and the axes II and 19 separate an increasing distance. This movement causes the cover to rotate to a greater extent about the pivotal axes ill of the links l1, and the differential between the arcs described by the pivots H and thearc described by the pivotal axes a' rotation of a quarter turn with respect to its position on the table top 3. Thus the cover is definitely guided throughout its bodily and rotary movement by the links l2 and I1, and the links l1 prevent the cover from swinging beyond the ver-- tical open position shown in Fig. 2 about the pivotal axis ll of the links 12.

The cover, of course, in a structure of this character, has some weight and bulk, and if it were allowed to drop intentionally or accidentally as it is swung rearwardly and downwardly, it would subject the whole structure to a considerable blow on the legs of the ironer stand would be in a horizontal direction which would tend to overbalance the whole structure. To avoid this condition, a cushioning means is provided which will compensate for the weight and momentum of the cover when it is swung to its open position. This cushioning means includes a coil spring 2| at each side. One end of each spring is secured to a bracket 22 which is fastened to the rear wall of the-cover adjacent the upper rear corner. The other ends of the spring are pivotally connected at 23 to the ends of the arms 24 which extend from the inner ends of the links I1 at substantially right angles to the major portion of the links l1. In effect the links l1 and the arm 24 form bell cranks rotatable about the pivotal axes 18.

These parts are so proportioned that during the initial opening movement of the cover, the springs are not brought into action, but as the movement continues rearwardly and downwardly the arcs described by the pivotal ends 23 of the springs cause an increase in distance between the pivotal ends 23 and the anchored ends of the springs, and cause the springs to stretch and counterbalance the weight and momentum of the cover. This counterbalancing efiect increases as the cover approaches its final position, and the springs are of sufficient strength so that they will almost entirely counterbalance the weight of the cover. Thus, even though the cover were allowed to drop into position, the counterbalancing efiect of the springs would prevent any violent shock or movement. The counterbalancing eiiect of the springs, on the other hand, relieves the weight of the cover to such an extent that it assists the operator very effectively in swinging the cover upwardly and forwardly into closed position. Stop lugs or bumpers 25, preferably made of rubber, are provided on the rear legs 2 of the table stand top engaged by the lower rear corners of to hold the cover in a substantially vertical position and compensate for the clearance necessary because of the overhanging edge of the table top 3.

A cover of this character is necessarily of considerable size and when suspended or supported in open position, as shown in Fig. 2, it provides considerable overhanging leverage at the rear of i8 imparts to the cover top of the the table stand, and in the event that additional weight is placed on the cover in this position there would be danger of the whole structure being overbalanced. To overcome these conditions, I provide an additional and independent supporting means for the cover. In the present structure this supporting means is in the form of a pair of legs 26 which are adapted to be brought into position to rest upon the floor when the cover reaches its final open position, and which are adapted to be withdrawn within the cover when the cover is returned to its closed position on the ironer stand, both of these operations of the legs being automatically brought about in the act of swinging the cover to either of its positions.

The legs 26 are arranged to move longitudinally through openings 21 in the wall of the cover adjacent the upper rear corners. Two of these legs are provided, one at each corner of the cover. The inner ends of the legs are pivotally connected at 28 to the ends of curved levers 29, the levers 29 being fulcrumed at 30 on the side walls of the cover. The other arms of the levers 29 beyond the pivots 30 are pivotally connected at 31 to the ends of the links 32. The other ends of links 32 are pivotally connected to the pins 33 on short arms 34 of the links l1, but the links 32 have elongated slots 35 which permits considerable relative movement between said links and the pivot pins 33, the purpose of these pin and slot connections being to allow for considerable movement of the links l1 during the initial opening movement of the cover without affecting the legs 26.

These links and levers and legs are all so proportioned, and their pivotal connections so arranged, that after the cover has been given its initial opening movement, further movement of the cover toward its final open position causes the legs 26 to be extended through the openings 21 the proper distance to reach the floor in the final position of the cover. In like manner, the return movement of the cover to closed position causes the parts to withdraw the legs within the cover. The lower end of the legs 26 have feet 36 which rest upon the floor, and, as shown in Fig. 1, act as stops to prevent the ends of the legs from being withdrawn through the openings 21 and out of alignment with said openings.

It will be noted that all of the mechanism is mounted adjacent the inner side of the side walls of the cover and within the cover so as not to interfere with the appearance of the structure. The only exception to this concealment of the operating parts is the arrangement of the links l2 which are positioned outside f the cover but adjacent the rear of both cover and ironer stand.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the construction, operation and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is understood that I contemplate such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of an ironer stand having ironer means thereon, a movable cover for said means,

links pivotally connected to said cover and to said stand permitting a hinge movement of the cover about the pivotal connections of the links with the cover and a bodily movement about the pivotal connections of the links with the stand, movable supporting legs by, and means operable by-the movement of the for the cover carried theremovement of the cover and cover for moving the legs into supporting tion.

2. The combination of an ironer machine having a table stand and ironing mechanism thereon, and a cover for said ironing mechanism movable between a closed position on the stand and an open position at the rear of and below the top of the stand, means governing the movement of the cover including mountings on the stand and connected to the cover for causing an initial hinge cover can be swung thereabout as a hinge, a second pair of links pivotally connected to the stand adjacent the pivotal connections of the first pair of links with the rear lowercorners of the cover, said second pair of links being pivotally connected at their other ends at the side walls of the cover and being adapted, when the cover is pivotally and bodily mounted, to rotate the cover to position its front vertical wall in a horizontal plane adjacent the top of the stand, a pair of position on the stand.

4. The combination supports and a table top, and mechanism mounted thereon and adapted to be covered, a box-like enclosure for said mechanism, said cover being adapted for movement between its position on the table top and a lower position at the rear of the stand, means connected with the table and cover for governing vthe movements of the cover between said positions, a pair of supporting legs for the cover in its lower position, and means operable by the movements of the cover for moving said legs into position.

5. The combination of a table stand having supports and a table top, and mechanism mounted thereon and adapted to be covered, a box-like adapted for movement between its position on the table top and a lower position at the rear of the stand, means connected with the tableand cover for governing the movements of the cover between said positions, leg members for supporting the cover on the floor in its final position, and means for automatically projecting :said legs into supporting position or withdrawing them within the cover during the movement of the cover to or from its final rear position.

WILLIAM J. MCCAUGHAN.

110' of a table stand having 25 enclosure for said mechanism, said cover being 

